{{Cleanup|September 2006}} {{Infobox Amusement park | name = LEGOLAND Windsor | image = | location = Windsor, Berkshire | season = | opening_date = 1996 | area = | rides = | coasters = | water_rides = | owner = | homepage = [ * ] }} {{GBthumb|132|209|SU938747}} Legoland Windsor is an amusement park in Windsor, Berkshire in England , with a Lego theme. The park is owned by Merlin Entertainment Group , following acquistion by Blackstone Group in 2005 , the company that operates the chain of Sealife centres. The park was built on the site of Windsor Safari Park and opened in 1996 ; facilities are mainly targeted at children between two and twelve, although no age groups are specifically barred. Its current slogan is "Heroes Wanted" (referencing the employments in the 2006 adverts).

Areas

    The Beginning
    Imagination Centre
    Miniland
    Duplo Land
    Wild Woods
    Traffic
    LEGO City
    Knights Kingdom
    Adventure Land

The Beginning

This is where visitors begin their journey, pick up a park guide and find facilities. Before opening time, a barrier closes off the rest of the park. Visitors, including fretful small children, congregate by the barrier, and the management has built a large and well-stocked sweet shop at this point.

Attractions:
    Facilities - toilet s, baby changing, wheelchair and pushchair hire, locker hire.
    Model Maker's Workshop - Children can watch the Legoland model makers build their models, and this area includes Lego representations of the Crown Jewels and the cockpit of a Virgin Boeing 747 , made from special silver pieces.
    Big Shop - where the largest selection of Lego products can be found anywhere in the UK, this is the primary shop to collect a special present.
    Pick-a-Brick- where Lego can be bought in a Pick'n'mix selection, from tubs of Lego. Also has some of the very hard to find Lego sets.

Imagination Centre

Duplo and Lego are made available for children to play with. A ride called the Sky Rider trundles about at a sedate pace. This area is also home to the 'Imagination Theatre' providing 3D films on the Lego Knight's Kingdom theme, in Spellbreaker 4D.

Attractions:
    Build & Test Workshops - Areas filled with Duplo and Lego which provide tools and stimulus for creative play. It now also includes Lego MINDSTORMS, where children can build robot s out of primary-coloured plastic blocks.
    Space Tower - Here you can 'pull' yourself up the tower, and then abseil , passing a seven metre high animated dinosaur , also made out of primary-coloured plastic blocks .
    Sky Rider - A monorail , making a single journey around a short circuit and offering limited views of the Berkshire countryside.
    Imagination Theatre - A theatre providing short 4D video s. Currently Showing Spellbreaker 4D and "Lego Racers 4D".

Miniland

Nearly 40 million of the primary-coloured plastic blocks have been used to recreate scenes from various cities. The scale used varies somewhat throughout.
     The London section now includes many brand new buildings including the Gherkin , Lloyd's of London , St Paul's Cathedral , Docklands Light Railway , Wembley Stadium (old building), Admiralty Arch , Horseguards Parade (with the Queen), Buckingham Palace , Palace of Westminster , St Martin's in the Fields , National Gallery, London , Nelson's Column , City Hall (London) , Tower of London , Tower Bridge , the Cenotaph , HSBC tower , Piccadilly Circus (with Eros), Covent Garden , Waterloo station , BT Tower , London Millennium Bridge , London Eye and Canary Wharf .
     England includes: Brighton Pier , the Angel of the North , Smiths Arms Wiltshire (the smallest pub in Britain), Stonehenge .
     Scotland includes Edinburgh Castle , Royal Mile , Eilean Donan , Jedburgh Abbey , Blair Atholl and Loch Ness .
     Italy includes The Vatican .
     France includes Notre Dame .
     Numerous other countries feature including Sweden and Holland . See categories at bottom of page ... .

Duplo Land

This area is aimed at younger children.

Attractions:
    The Fairy Tale Brook Ride - A green plastic boat drifts past tableaux from popular fairy tales. The characters are all constructed from the ubiquitous primary-coloured plastic blocks.
    Whirly Bird Helicopter Rides - Several devices with some resemblance to a helicopter travel up and down, rotating meanwhile.
    Young Adventure Playground - Play area for children.
    The Duplo Train - A train.
    Willow Stage - Regular puppet shows are performed here for young children.

Wild Woods

This area is aimed at an older age group.

Attractions:
    Pirate Falls Log Flume - Log flume for children, who must be accompanied by an adult.
    The Rat Trap - Adventure playground for older children.
    Panning For Gold - Pan for gold , and win prizes and a certificate.
    Three Different Mazes - Three different maze s to get lost in!
    "Spinning Spider"

Traffic

This area is themed around transport

Attractions:
    Driving School (For 6-13 Years Old) - Drivers watch the 'Rules Of The Road' and then take to the wheel of the Lego cars. They drive these around the LegoLand driving course, which has been furnished with plastic buildings and traffic lights. When the tests are over, children are presented with a certificate. This is "Drivers Wanted"
    L-Drivers (For 3-5 Years Old) - This is for the younger age group, and have smaller battery powered cars.
    Boating School - Here children get to take control of Lego boats. They take the helm of the boat, negotiate around plastic buoys, over plastic rapids and avoid other boats.
    Balloon School - Visitors take a 40ft ride into the sky in a hot air balloon, enjoying a view of the Berkshire scenery.
    "Fire Academy" - Here you can be a fireman

LEGO City

The area of 'LEGO City' includes the harbour and the lighthouse . This produces family shows, with acrobatics and Lego "hero", Johnny Thunder. This also includes the 'Big Restaurant' with a newly refurbished eating center. You can ride the Orient Expedition providing scenic views. There is also a selection of fairground rides.

Attractions:
    Harbour and Lighthouse - Live shows are offered here, for the visitors of the park at various times.
    Big Restaurant - Here lies the 'Big Restaurant'. It has recently been refurbished. You'll find a selection of hot food, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Aquatic scenery inside is constructed from the primary-coloured plastic blocks.
    Orient Expedition - Train ride travelling around the park.
    Fairground Rides - Here are some of the ground's fairground rides with some coin operated machines.
    Digger Challenge -New for 2006, a chance to operate a hydraulic digger.

Knights Kingdom

An extension to the Legoland park, with two rides and a gift shop.

Attractions:
    Dragon Coaster This is "Dragon Slayers Wanted"
    The Dragon 's Apprentice
    Gift Shop

Adventure Land

The newest area and extension to Legoland.

Attractions:
    Wave Surfer Ride - Riders are warned that observers may try and fire water at the riders during their ride. This is "Adventurers/Explorers Wanted"
    Jungle Coaster - A new ride in 2005, with a top speed of 60 km/h
    "Dino Safari" - Jump in a car and maka a safari
    "Dino Dipper" - here it´s going in circles
    Climbing Wall - Children can climb 24 ft (7 m) in the air, with the aid of trained surpervisors. Additional cost for this attraction.

Most Popular Rides

Jungle Coaster

The jungle coaster consists of a Technic themed travelling car, and begins by taking you to the top of a large tower. Then, you are sent on a rollerocaster - but with a difference! You are subjected to sharp, tight turns and there are numerous jumps and bumps on the way. Opened in 2004.

Pirate Falls

DragonsApprentice

SpaceTower

Opened in 1997, this ride consists of a rotating tower. Visitors can pull on a rope, to raise the seats on which they sit up the tower. Views over London on a clear day are very good, as is the excitement of seeing Miniland from the air. And the dinosaur exploding out of the Imagination Centre adds to the intrigue whilst on the ride.

Awards

Since opening in 1996 the Park has won at least one award. This was the 2002 award for Best UK Attraction for Children, issued by Yandell Publishing, producers of Meat and Poultry News and Group Leisure magazine.

New for 2007 is, 'Viking River Splash'. A rapid's ride made by Intamin. The ride will be heavly themed and will feature some unique element's such as a 'Lift' section and a 'Free Fall' drop.

External links

    [ Legoland Windsor ]
    [ Legoland Guide @ ThemeParks-UK ]

{{Lego}}

<LEGO>
<Theme parks in England>
<Visitor attractions in Berkshire>
<Windsor, Berkshire>